WordPress Business Archives

Gutenberg and The Impacts It’ll Have on the WordPress Business Ecosystem

Published in Business on December 4, 2017

As has become customary over the past 8 years, I joined thousands of fellow WordPress enthusiasts and supporters for WordCamp US 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. For me, the highlight is always the State of The Word (SOTW), delivered by Matt Mullenweg (Co-Founder of the platform).

The SOTW provides an opportunity to reflect on the last year, and where the platform is going. Where the platform goes is often a strong indicator of where the rest of the ecosystem will follow.

The WordPress Business Ecosystem

Last year it was a pivotal year for the platform. We did away with release cycles, introduced a multi-lead approach, but more importantly it introduced the hottest and most contentious idea since the platforms inception- Gutenberg.

We were treated to a live demo. It provided a fresh, awe-inspiring, view of Gutenbergs power. It wasn’t at this point that I gained a completely new appreciation for the role it will undeniably play in reshaping the WordPress business ecosystem.

How many plugins would it have taken to achieve this experience?

This is what I kept asking myself as I watched.

Today the WordPress business ecosystem is comprised of products (e.g., plugins, themes, etc..), integrators (e.g., Pro’s, Agencies, etc..) and services (e.g., hosts, security, maintenance, etc..). Tomorrow, it’ll look dramatically different in large part to what Gutenberg is doing. Are you prepared?

Gutenberg site customization…

Future of 2018 – Matt Mullenweg

As Gutenberg moves beyond the posts / pages, into the world of site customization I find myself wondering how many more thing it’ll simplify and consolidate. Specifically, how that will impact the small businesses that power today’s WordPress platform; those that have built themselves dependent on a platform’s specific design.

If it was not apparent, the platform is changing. If your product is meant to simplify some aspect of the platforms experience, your future is inevitably numbered, as it’ll likely be commoditized at the core level.

The message and direction is clear for the platform. We achieve our BHAG if we can optimize the users experience. We’re doubling down on this.

Good or Bad – Doesn’t Matter

It’s not that the plugin / theme community isn’t valued or that no one sees the platform exists because of it. But it is about hitting goals, and what the platform needs today to get to it’s BHAG is very different than what it needed when it required growth / user adoption.

If I were Matt I would be doing the same thing. It’s about combating the encroaching affects of outside closed-source platforms, the threats they pose on the larger open-web conversation, and also hitting that platforms big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) of 51% market share.

If I were the plugin / themes shops I would be rightfully concerned and upset. It’s this feeling of frustration, and possibly betrayal. As a small business, there is already limited time and resources to support the needs of acquiring new customers, let alone supporting the ones you have, and now there is new requirement that feels extremely exhausting.

The real question I would be asking myself is not whether I can support it, but rather what does it do to my product category when it becomes standardized in core? My general feeling is that the WordPress business landscape will be look dramatically different in five years. Where does your product / business sit?

This does not mean that there won’t be a plugin ecosystem in 5 years, but rather that it’ll be dramatically different than today. Tools that prove invaluable in moving the platform forward will prove market need, and this need will be productized at some level.

The impacts here will move beyond just the plugin domain, there are affects to be felt within the theme space as well. One could argue that when the site creation process is introduced how themes are leveraged will fundamentally change. When you simply the creation process, do you really still need a theme at all? If so, what does that theme really look like?

There is also the impacts to integrators, specifically the professionals that make a living on helping users establish their online entity and do it by taking a theme and configuring it. I’m talking about that process that many Pro’s take today – sell a site to a customer, buy a framework (think Genesis), read the document and configure the site for their customer. In many ways, you can argue the Do It For Me (DIFM) market exists predominantly because the Do It Yourself (DIY) space has proven to hard. What happens when that technical divide becomes smaller? We’ve always known the platforms achilles heel is 5 minutes to install, 3 weeks to configure.

There are certain things / products that deliver such intrinsic value that it transcends any platform. Security is a good example such a product. These are the areas we, you, should place your energy as a small business if you’re targeting WordPress. These are the areas that cannot be consolidated or commoditized. If you build around how something works today, you might find yourself out of a job tomorrow. This evolution is not unique to WordPress, it happened with Google, Twitter and the list goes on. The platform will always do what is in the best interest of the platform.

Just because WordPress is democratizing publishing, it doesn’t mean it is a democracy.

CaboPress – A Business MasterMind (I Think)

Published in Business on October 21, 2017

For the past three years Chris Lema has invited me to join him at his event – CaboPress. For three years I have declined the request.

I declined previously for two reasons:

Didn’t think I had much to offer,
Afraid of the impressions hanging out on a resort in Mexico would have on my team.

What I failed to realize however is that it wasn’t about what I could offer, but the impacts it would have on me as an individual, and more importantly the renewed insights I could bring back to the team. In short, like many of the decisions in my life, I was an idiot.

This year, with the beginning of a new chapter in my life I said yes. As I sit here and reflect on that decision, I feel strongly it was one of the best decisions I have made in a long time.

Automattic’s Push into Managed WordPress and It’s Potential Impacts to the Hosting Ecosystem

Published in Business on August 7, 2017

The Managed WordPress ecosystem welcomes a new entrant – Automattic. Today they officially announced that WordPress.com Business now supports plugins and third-party themes.

I am fascinated by the move because I believe it to be an obvious impact to the Managed WordPress ecosystem. In the interest of full disclosure, I work in the security division for one of the largest Managed WordPress hosts – GoDaddy – via my affiliation with Sucuri.

Define A Financial Structure Early

Published in Business on June 20, 2017

If you’re looking to exit your company, building the financial structure for your business will be important. It will be the most important piece of the equation in any future conversations. Unicorns need not apply.

It is the most under appreciated. They will get you to the promise land, but then they will also fall back into the abyss. There are only a few groups of people that really care about your financials.

WordCamp Minneapolis 2015: Building and Running a Global Workforce

Published in Business on May 17, 2015

Recently I spoke at WordCamp Minneapolis 2015 on Building and Running a Global Workforce: The People Aspect of a Remote Company. While I usually speak about security, in this talk I share the challenges of a remote work force and speak about people issues, culture, growth challenges, scaling, and everything in between.

In June of 2014, I stepped into the role of CEO of Sucuri. In the presentation, I also share some of the lessons we have learned at Sucuri throughout the past five years of doing business at a global scale.

Check out the video of my presentation:

Watch The Video

A Day with the Woo: WooConf 2014

Published in Business on November 4, 2014

To think I was not going to attend the event.

It was already later in the year, November, and besides, as my beloved friend Chris Lema pointed out, I had been rejected to speak.

Forgive @perezbox and his tweets. He got a rejection letter from #wooconf without even applying to speak.

— Chris Lema (@chrislema) November 3, 2014

I didn’t even get my name in the hello.

MailChimp Subscribe Form Plugin via @CrowdFavorite

Published in Business on October 31, 2014

Decided to update my email subscription feature and in the process set out to find a more effective solution.

I had been rocking the Jetpack plugin and using their subscription module, but it left a lot to be desired. Mainly the lack of control, or appeared lack of control over my own data (my emails). For the average site though it might be perfect, and right what the doctor ordered.

For me however I was looking for something specifically to integrate with MailChimp. I actually didn’t even know that there was a MailChimp plugin, I thought I would have to do a form myself (as I had done before), but oh how the things have changed.

Turns out that in my absence, a few months – maybe years, things continue to evolve. How awesome is that!

Turns out our friends at Crowd Favorite built a free MailChimp plugin. #hattip

The Value a Blog Brings To Your Brand

Published in Business on October 31, 2014

While in San Francisco this past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a conference, WordCamp San Francisco. I didn’t sit in on that many sessions, for a variety of reasons, but there was one that I attended, mostly because I know the speaker and he delivers a good and impactful talk – Chris Lema.

His talk was on Building Your Brand with a Blog – yes I stole the concept for the post title from that.

He defined 6 key elements to a successful content marketing strategy:

Audience
Needs
Opinion
Consistency
Tone
Sharing

If you have never heard my Chilean friend talk, you really need to, oh and don’t worry you have a lot of opportunities to. I encourage you to grab a glass of your favorite drink and go through the various videos, he’s a phenomenal speaker, and he writes about it too. But look, this post isn’t about my friend, it is however about his 6 key points.

WordPress: The Vision of Five And What it Means

Published in Business on October 1, 2014

I was in Europe this past week for WordCamp Europe. I was accepted to speak about security, go figure… :)

Of the several talks I sat in on, the one I found most fascinating was the interview with Matt Mullenwegg ( WordPress Co-Founder, Head of the WordPress Foundation, CEO / Founder of Automattic). I am not sure why, I have often found myself in the crowd listening to Matt give a talk of some kind, whether it’s in a Town Hall setting or an interview.

I have crossed verbal swords with him on posts and twitter, extending and interpreting his words based on my own personal biases, etc… This time however, for once, I just listened and tried to really appreciate what he was saying.

Sometimes when you shut up, it’s amazing the things you really hear…

WordCamp Minneapolis 2014: Commercial WordPress Products

Published in Business on May 1, 2014

Recently I spoke at WordCamp Minneapolis 2014 on The Basics Of WordPress Security.

At the event, I pulled double duty and also participated in a panel discussion on Commercial WordPress Products moderated by Kiko Doran with:

Reid Peifer of Modern Tribe and Events Calendar Pro
Marc Benzakein of ServerPress and Desktop Server
Carl Hancock of RocketGenius and Gravity Forms
Ben Fox of FlowPress and SidekickPro

In this panel discussion we all answer some pointed questions by Kiko about our opinions and experiences selling commercial WordPress products.

Check out the video of the panel discussion and thanks for Paul Lampland for snapping this great photo!

Watch The Video

WordPress.org Promotes 100% GPL MarketPlace

Published in Business on March 28, 2013

Have you noticed anything new on WordPress.org lately? I have.

Right smack on the front page there is a new ad for a MarketPlace that is 100% GPL compliant, well, at least what I like to call WordPress GPL Compliant. And yes, there is a distinction, but that’s a story for another day.

WordCamp San Diego 2013: PressNomics For All

Published in Business on March 25, 2013

This was an interesting year for me when it comes to WordCamp San Diego.

It was the third one being held in the city and the first in which I was not involved. I have to admit, it was odd but pleasant. I remember a conversation in which someone told me that WordCamp organizers are perhaps the most under-appreciated volunteers in the WordPress eco-system, and I have to admit they probably are. Having been part of the organizing team for the first two I know first hand the obstacles they face and have to overcome to be successful. Which is also one of the reasons I am volunteering to help the WordCamp Guidelines committee.

WordPress Businesses Find a Home in Pressnomics

Published in Business on November 12, 2012

In March of this year, 2012, I remember first hearing about the event. It was publicly announced in one of the early renditions of WPLateNight. I remember thinking this sounds like something interesting. So much so that I took a minute to write my first impression and what I understood the event to be about. I think it is fair to say that it did not disappoint and my understanding was spot on.

Amidst the silent whispers in virtual corners and public naysayers the event made its first appearance in Chandler, Arizona last week and did so in style. Although there were various glitches along the way, none were overwhelming enough to say the event was anything but a success. In doing so, cementing a home for all businesses within the WordPress ecosystem.

Pressnomics: A Day at Gangplank

Published in Business on November 7, 2012

In Chandler, Arizona, a day early, in preparation of the first Pressnomics event. And event tailored for businesses in the WordPress ecosystem.

Spending it at the local co-work facility, Gangplank. Can’t wait to bring something similar to my little city — Menifee, California.

WordPress Business EcoSystem: Pressnomics

Published in Business on November 5, 2012

Tomorrow I will be boarding a plane headed, at a crisp 400 mph, to Phoenix, Arizona for the first WordPress conference tailored for the business ecosystem, Pressnomics. I remember when the announcement was first made earlier this year and my initial thoughts on what a conference like this would entail. Surprisingly, my thoughts haven’t really changed.

I do however find myself wondering if it’ll meet, exceed or fail all the above expectations. I can almost see pundits on either side ready to bash or praise the event. I wonder what insights will be shared. Will it ride on the coat tails of the recent community summit? Will this kumbaya like feeling that seems to have poured out of the summit find itself into Pressnomics?

And to those that bash me for talking InfoSec, you obviously haven’t heard me talk business before. :) The issue isn’t the subject, it’s the talking…

Here’s to an interesting week. Cheers!

Kudos to WordPress.org: Community Summit 2012

Published in Business on May 15, 2012

After all the fuss I stirred up with the release of WordCamp San Francisco sponsorship packages a week ago, I felt compelled to take a minute to commend the WordPress leadership on today’s release of a Community Summit set for later this year, 2012.

Of the entire post my biggest take away was this:

WordCamp San Francisco 2012 Sponsorship: Kettle meet Pot

Published in Business on May 3, 2012

Ok, this has me a bit perturbed.

Today I get an email about the WCSF 2012 sponsorship packages and low and behold I am shocked, again, at the packages. Last year this happened, and not many folks said anything, this year I’m not sure I can go without saying something.

Having been part of the organizing team for two very successful camps, WordCamp San Diego 2011 and 2012, I can’t help recall long conversations with the WordPress foundation, whom “govern” the WordCamps world-wide, around sponsorship packages.

One very specific conversation was around the level of sponsorships and the response I got:

The Concept of a “Pressnomics” Conference

Published in Business on May 2, 2012

Today it was publicly released that there is a new conference for businesses that leverage the WordPress platform as part of their service offering or as part of the business architecture — Pressnomics. It took me a minute to sick back and really think about the conference and how it differs from what we know of today as a WordCamp.

At first glance I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, it had more to do with getting away from the Foundation’s oversight and breaking free from the perceived shackles. I would probably argue that some might still think that at first glance, and so I decided to think through it a bit more.

Planning a WordCamp

Published in Business on April 4, 2012

If you have ever considered planning a WordCamp then you will want to read this post.

I was an organizer in 2011 and 2012 for WordCamp San Diego. I can honestly say they were by far one of the most interesting experiences I have had to date. They were comprised of extreme highs and lows spread over a number of months. There is no escaping the feelings you have the few days prior to the event, the days of the event and the days immediately following the event. The things that I probably overlooked when first starting off were:

The Organizing Team
The Foundation
Where to start?
The Little Things

WordCamp Las Vegas: Day Two (Morning After Day One)

Published in Life on December 16, 2011

Gah, you would think that after a night out in Vegas what I would be recovering from would most likely be a severe hang over or case of alcohol poisoning, but no, that’s not the case. Instead what I am recovering from is half the cow, whole pig, and half the bottle of vodka they poured into my milkshake. Yes, all this courtesy of Heart Attack Grill right off Freemont and Las Vegas Blvd.

As if the name was not enough, they have a giant sign in the front that read 350 lbs eats for free. Oh and did I mention that they have this huge scale in the middle of the room too?

I can’t even think of the words that best describe the size and greasiness of this burger. It was only a double, but it had to be held up with a stick. If weighed, I’d have to put it at a little under 1 lb. As if that was not enough they piled it with 10 slices of bacon, not those thin slices of bacon, good 3 mm slices. The fries, well those were just fried lard. I don’t think there was single potato wedge in there.